Slide rheostat and push-pull switch assembly

ABSTRACT

A slide rheostat and a push-pull switch are assembled together by a fixed plate. An intercoupling drive plate is engaged with the fixed plate so as to achieve a seesaw movement in response to the pull and push operation of a knob in the center hole of which is inserted a control lever of the slide rheostat, the knob being freely movable in a slit formed in the intercoupling drive plate. A shaft of the switch is coupled to the intercoupling drive plate so that in response to the seesaw movement of the drive plate the switch is switched ON and OFF.

United States Patent Nomura [4 1 June 6, 1972 [54] SLIDE RHEOSTAT AND PUSH-PULL SWITCH ASSEMBLY [72] inventor: Yukihiko Nomura, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Alps Electric (10., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan 22 Filed: June 10, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 151,889

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 2,716,874 9/1955 Wiley ..338/l98X 3,510,821 5/1970 Eberweinetal. ..338/l98X Primary Examiner-Lewis H. Myers Assistant Examiner- D. A. Tone [57] ABSTRACT A slide rheostat and a push-pull switch are assembled together by a fixed plate. An intercoupling drive plate is engaged with the fixed plate so as to achieve a seesaw movement in response to the pull and push operation of a knob in the center hole of which is inserted a control lever of the slide rheostat, the knob being freely movable in a slit formed in the intercoupling drive plate. A shaft of the switch is coupled to the intercoupling drive plate so that in response to the seesaw movement of the drive plate the switch is switched ON and OFF.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUH 61972 v 3. 668 597 sum 1 OF 2 FIG. I

SLIDE RIIEOSTAT AND PUSH-PULL SWITCH ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to an intercoupling drive mechanism for intercoupling a push-pull switch and a slide rheostat.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an intercoupled combination of a slide rheostat and a push-pull switch.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple mechanism for intercoupling operatively a slide rheostat and a push-pull switch.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a combination of a slide rheostat and a push-pull switch together with a knob wherein by manipulating the knob a resistance value of the rheostat can be regulated and the switching operation of the push-pull switch can also be effected irrespective of a position of the knob.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a slide rheostat and a push-pull switch are assembled by use of a fixed plate for assembling fixedly together the rheostat body and the push-pull switch body, and an intercoupling drive plate, wherein the intercoupling drive plate is adapted to perform a seesaw movement and to intercouple a knob in a center hole of which a control lever of the rheostat is loosely inserted and a shaft of the switch. The knob is engaged movably in a slit formed in the intercoupling drive plate for regulating a resistance value across output terminals of the rheostat through the control lever, and the push-pull movement of the knob is transferred through the intercoupling driverplate to the shaft of the switch to achieveswitching action of the switch through the seesaw movement of the intercoupling drive plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a slide rheostat with a push-pull switch assembled according to the present invention;

' FIGS. 2A and 2B are side elevational views, partly in section, of a main portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the manner of switching operation;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are enlarged fragmentary views illustrating the attached condition of an intercoupling drive plate; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a knob, an intercoupling drive plate and a fixed plate for use in the present invention.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 there are shown a push-pull switch body 1, a slide rheostat body 2, and a fixed plate 3 made of one metallic plate formed with a U-shaped cut-away portion 4. In the U-shaped cut-away portion 4, a bearing 5 of the switch body 1 is inserted and the switch body 1 is secured to the fixed plate 3 by means of a fastening nut 6. The rheostat body 2 is secured to the plate 3 by threading screws 7 in small holes 21 formed in the plate 3, whereby the switch and rheostat bodies 1 and 2 are assembled to the plate 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a shaft 8 of the push-pull switch is formed with a slender portion 9 and, as shown in FIG. 4, the intercoupling drive plate 10 is formed with a U-shaped cut-away portion 11, L-shaped pawl portions 12, a wide slit l3, and an elongated narrow slit 14.

The intercoupling drive plate 10 is assembled with other parts in such a manner that the U-shaped cut-away portion 11 engages with the slender portion 9 of the shaft 8 of the pushpull switch, and the L-shaped pawl portions 12 are interlocked in rectangular holes 15 formed in the fixed plate 3, whereby the intercoupling drive plate 10 can perform a seesaw movement with the L-shaped pawl portions 12 serving as a pivot.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 28, a control lever 16 of the slide rheostat 2 passes through the narrow slit 14 formed in the intercoupling drive plate 10 and projects from the front of the assembly. As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 4, a knob 17 of the rheostat is formed with a center hole 18 and a pair of recesses 19 on either side face. The knob is assembled with other parts in such a manner that the control lever 16 is loosely inserted into the center hole 18, and the knob 17 is inserted in the elongated narrow slit 14 formed in the intercoupling drive plate 10, wherein, as the knob 17 is pushed or pulled, the recesses 19 of the knob 17 catching the intercoupling drive plate 10 cause the seesaw movement of the plate 10.

It will be noted that the engagement of the knob 17 with the intercoupling drive plate 10 is achieved by, first, inserting the knob 17 into the wide slit 13, after the recesses 19 have met the intercoupling drive plate 10, shifting the knob toward the elongated narrow slit, and, then, coupling the recesses 19 to the intercoupling drive plate 10 (see FIG. 3A and 3B).

A coil spring 20 is wound about the corresponding L-shaped pawl portion 12 and interposed between the fixed plate 3 and the intercoupling drive plate 10, which serves as to stop rattling of the intercoupling drive plate 10.

The operation of the illustrated embodiment according to the present invention will now be described. FIG. 2A shows the position where the switch shaft 8 is protruding in front and the switch is in the OFF state. In this condition, if the knob 17 is pulled, the knob 17 moves with the control lever 16 serving as a guide. In response thereto, the intercoupling drive plate 10 is pulled forward (or pivots in a counter-clockwise direction) by means of the recesses 19 of the knob 17, that is, the intercoupling drive plate 10 performs its seesaw movement about the pivot of L-shaped pawl portions 12. Consequently, the switch shaft 8 is pushed backward or inwardly by means of the U-shaped cut-away portion 11 formed on the intercoupling drive plate 10 and a contact mechanism (not shown) within the switch body 1 is switched ON.

In the foregoing state (see FIG. 2B), if the knob 17 is moved leftward or rightward, the control lever 16 is shifted correspondingly to thereby regulate a resistance value across the output terminals of the rheostat.

On the contrary, switching OFF of the switch can be easily achieved by pushing the knob 17. Upon pushing of the knob, the intercoupling drive plate 10 moves, in a manner opposite to the aforesaid operation in accordance with the foregoing principles to pull the switch shaft 8 outwardly whereby the contact mechanism switches OFF.

It should be noted that the ON and OFF operation of the switch can be effected irrespective of a position of the knob 17 within a knob slidable range. I

As described hereinabove, the combination of the switch 8 and the rheostat 2 coupled together by the fixed plate 3, according to'the present invention, includes the intercoupling I drive plate 10 which intercouples the knob 17 in the center hole of which the control lever 16 is loosely inserted and the switch shaft 8 of the switch 1 so as to be able to perform the seesaw movement. Thus, in response to the push-pull operation of the knob 17 the switch 1 switches ON and OFF. Accordingly, the present invention provides the slide rheostat having the push-pull switch which can be constructed of a reduced number of parts, produced at low cost and operate reliably.

Further, the combination device of the present invention can be constructed with the use of conventional parts and can be switched ON and OFF at a desired position of the knob or slider.

Though the illustrated device has been described as including one push-pull switch in conjunction with the intercoupling drive plate 10, it is possible to mount a plurality of push-pull switches to the fixed plate 3 in relation to the intercoupling drive plate 10 as necessity arises, whereby plural electric circuits can be switched in response to manipulation of the knob.

While one preferred embodiment of the invention has been described hereinabove, it is appreciated that variations and modifications may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination of a slide rheostat and a push-pull switch, comprising a fixed plate for assembling fixedly together the body of said slide rheostat and the body of said push-pull switch, an intercoupling drive plate adapted to perfonn a seesaw movement relative to said fixed plate, a knob having a center hole, said rheostat having a control lever that is loosely inserted in said center hole, said switch having a shaft, said drive plate being connected to said knob and to said switch shaft, a slit formed in said intercoupling drive plate, and said knob being movably mounted in said slit for regulating a resistance value across output terminals of said rheostat by movement of said control lever, whereby the push-pull movement of said knob is transferred through said intercoupling drive plate to said shaft of said switch to achieve switching action of said switch through the seesaw movement of said intercoupling drive plate.

2. A combination of a slide rheostat and a push-pull switch as specified in claim 1 wherein said intercoupling drive plate is formed with a U-shaped cut-away portion engaging with said shaft of said switch, said fixed plate has at least two holes therethrough, and said drive plate has at least two L-shaped pawl portions engaging with said holes in said fixed plate to serve as pivots when said intercoupling drive plate performs the seesaw movement.

3. A combination of a slide rheostat and a push-pull switch as specified in claim 2 further including coil springs provided about said L-shaped pawl portions to stop rattling of said intercoupling drive plate.

4. A combination of a slide rheostat and a push-pull switch, comprising means for fixedly connecting the bodies of said rheostat and said switch, a drive plate connected to said connecting means for seesaw movement relative thereto, said rheostat having control means, and a knob operatively connected to said control means, said switch having an operating shaft, said drive plate being connected to said knob and to said switch shaft, said knob being movable on said drive plate to move said control means and to regulate the resistance value across the output terminals of said rheostat, the push-pull movement of said knob being transferred through said drive plate to said switch shaft to cause switching action of said switch through the seesaw movement of said drive plate. 

1. A combination of a slide rheostat and a push-pull switch, comprising a fixed plate for assembling fixedly together the body of said slide rheostat and the body of said push-pull switch, an intercoupling drive plate adapted to perform a seesaw movement relative to said fixed plate, a knob having a center hole, said rheostat having a control lever that is loosely inserted in said center hole, said switch having a shaft, said drive plate being connected to said knob and to said switch shaft, a slit formed in said intercoupling drive plate, and said knob being movably mounted in said slit for regulating a resistance value across output terminals of said rheostat by movement of said control lever, whereby the push-pull movement of said knob is transferred through said intercoupling drive plate to said shaft of said switch to achieve switching action of said switch through the seesaw movement of said intercoupling drive plate.
 2. A combination of a slide rheostat and a push-pull switch as specified in claim 1 wherein said intercoupling drive plate is formed with a U-shaped cut-away portion engaging with said shaft of said switch, said fixed plate has at least two holes therethrough, and said drive plate has at least two L-shaped pawl portions engaging with said holes in said fixed plate to serve as pivots when said intercoupling drive plate performs the seesaw movement.
 3. A combination of a slide rheostat and a push-pull switch as specified in claim 2 further including coil springs provided about said L-shaped pawl portions to stop rattling of said intercoupling drive plate.
 4. A combination of a slide rheostat and a push-pull switch, comprising means for fixedly connecting the bodies of said rheostat and said switch, a drive plate connected to said connecting means for seesaw movement relative thereto, said rheostat having control means, and a knob operatively connected to said control means, said switch having an operating shaft, said drive plate being connected to said knob and to said switch shaft, said knob being movable on said drive plate to move said control means and to regulate the resistance value across the output terminals of said rheostat, the push-pull movement of said knob being transferred through said drive plate to said switch shaft to cause switching action of said switch through the seesaw movement of said drive plate. 